Facilities: Collections
Natural history collections are a critical element in DNA barcoding research as they provide an independent reference for the verification and validation of taxonomic identifications inferred from DNA barcodes. As stipulated by the Consortium for the Barcodes of Life, to gain the status of a DNA barcode, the sequences must originate from an authoritatively identified specimen and must be supported by a properly preserved voucher deposited in a well-curated collection and accessible for re-examination. Therefore the management of collections involved in DNA barcoding is one of the important elements of the workflow process at CCDB.
Collections used by the CCDB are housed and processed by the collection management module of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario. This module is designed to ensure that voucher specimens sent on loan for the purpose of tissue sampling and imaging are properly accessioned and stored before being returned to the sender or deposited with major museums or collections for permanent storage. It also manages loans of tissue and DNA extracts to and from BIO. To facilitate the international exchange of collection specimens, BIO is registered with the Canadian CITES Authority.
The voucher specimen holdup facility is capable of temporarily housing and processing small and medium-sized collection specimens in form of dry mounts (e.g,. pinned insects and study skins), fluid preserved or frozen carcasses and microscopic mounts. The integrity of dry mounts stored in the holdup facility is ensured via the implementation of integrated pest management protocols. Residual tissue left from the analyses is housed in the cryogenic tissue storage facility and DNA is being archived in the library of DNA extracts. The pathways of voucher specimens and derivatives thereof are tracked and logged via an electronic database.
The collection management process is integrated with the other components of the analytical workflow in BIO, including the DNA analysis facility and digital imaging. Protocols are being developed to facilitate the efficient management of collections used in biodiversity research. For more information on our policies regarding tissue and sample management, please refer to our Biological Materials Transfer Agreement.